City police search for man believed to have raped, robbed 5

Baltimore police are searching for a man who they say has raped and robbed five women in the past month in West and East Baltimore by forcing them into vacant rowhouses at gunpoint.

The victims have ranged in age from late teens to early 40s. In one case, police said the man assaulted two women at the same time. The first reported case occurred Sept. 30 and the most recent occurred Thursday.

Most of the attacks have occurred on West Baltimore streets, said Officer Angelique Cook-Hayes, a police spokeswoman. And all happened between 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. The spokeswoman said the man approaches women from behind at gunpoint.

The attacks have occurred in the 1800 block of N. Bethel St.; the 1200 block of Druid Hill Avenue; the 700 block of Cumberland St.; and the 800 block of Brooks Lane.

The suspect is described as a black male between 19 and 21 years old and weighing 170 to 180 pounds. He has a medium complexion with pockmarks on his face and a pixi-plait hairstyle.

Police said he was last seen wearing blue jeans, a black T-shirt under a gray and white plaid shirt and a blue and white Speedo bathing cap.